Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity Statement (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data	Total USD ($)	Common Stock [Member]	Common Stock [Member] USD ($)	Capital in Excess of Par Value [Member] USD ($)	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Earnings (Loss) [Member] USD ($)	Retained Earnings [Member] USD ($)	CLARCOR Inc. [Member] USD ($)	Non-redeemable noncontrolling interests [Member] USD ($)
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest at Nov. 29, 2008	$ 654,191		$ 50,794	$ 48,025	$ (26,830)	$ 579,209	$ 651,198	$ 2,993
Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding at Nov. 29, 2008		50,794,422
Net earnings (excludes redeemable noncontrolling interests)	71,902		0	0	0	71,543	71,543	359
Pension and other postretirement benefits liability adjustments	(20,766)		0	0	(20,766)	0	(20,766)	0
Translation adjustments	14,638		0	0	14,717	0	14,717	(79)
Comprehensive earnings (excludes redeemable noncontrolling interests)	65,774						65,494	280
Noncontrolling Interest, Decrease from Redemptions or Purchase of Interests	(1,417)		0	0	0	0	0	(1,417)
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercises in Period		205,031
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Stock Options Exercised	1,560		205	1,355	0	0	1,560	0
Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Income Tax Benefit from Share-based Compensation	1,809		0	1,809	0	0	1,809	0
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Restricted Stock Award And Employee Stock Purchase Plan And Share Based Compensation		81,318
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Restricted Stock Award And Employee Stock Purchase Plan And Share Based Compensation	1,759		82	1,677	0	0	1,759	0
Treasury Stock, Shares, Acquired And Retired		(688,200)
Treasury Stock Value Acquired And Retired Cost Method	(19,767)		(688)	(19,079)	0	0	(19,767)	0
Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Share-based Compensation, Requisite Service Period Recognition	3,027		0	3,027	0	0	3,027	0
Stockholders' Equity, Other	221		0	0	0	221	221	0
Dividends, Common Stock, Cash	(18,682)		0	0	0	(18,682)	(18,682)	0
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest at Nov. 28, 2009	688,475		50,393	36,814	(32,879)	632,291	686,619	1,856
Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding at Nov. 28, 2009		50,392,571
Net earnings (excludes redeemable noncontrolling interests)	96,256		0	0	0	96,081	96,081	175
Pension and other postretirement benefits liability adjustments	2,170		0	0	2,170	0	2,170	0
Translation adjustments	(5,100)		0	0	(5,097)	0	(5,097)	(3)
Comprehensive earnings (excludes redeemable noncontrolling interests)	93,326						93,154	172
Noncontrolling Interest, Decrease from Redemptions or Purchase of Interests	(781)		0	190	0	0	190	(971)
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercises in Period		336,189
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Stock Options Exercised	5,054		336	4,718	0	0	5,054	0
Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Income Tax Benefit from Share-based Compensation	2,457		0	2,457	0	0	2,457	0
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Restricted Stock Award And Employee Stock Purchase Plan And Share Based Compensation		52,007
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Restricted Stock Award And Employee Stock Purchase Plan And Share Based Compensation	1,770		52	1,718	0	0	1,770	0
Treasury Stock, Shares, Acquired And Retired		(445,991)
Treasury Stock Value Acquired And Retired Cost Method	(16,277)		(446)	(15,831)	0	0	(16,277)	0
Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Share-based Compensation, Requisite Service Period Recognition	3,632		0	3,632	0	0	3,632	0
Stockholders' Equity, Other	13		0	0	765	(752)	13	0
Dividends, Common Stock, Cash	(20,142)		0	0	0	(20,142)	(20,142)	0
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest at Nov. 27, 2010	757,527		50,335	33,698	(35,041)	707,478	756,470	1,057
Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding at Nov. 27, 2010		50,334,776
Net earnings (excludes redeemable noncontrolling interests)	124,351		0	0	0	124,003	124,003	348
Pension and other postretirement benefits liability adjustments	(7,614)		0	0	(7,614)	0	(7,614)	0
Translation adjustments	(1,989)		0	0	(1,736)	0	(1,736)	(253)
Comprehensive earnings (excludes redeemable noncontrolling interests)	114,748						114,653	95
Noncontrolling Interest, Decrease from Redemptions or Purchase of Interests	(321)		0	0	0	0	0	(321)
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercises in Period		439,582
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Stock Options Exercised	3,384		440	2,944	0	0	3,384	0
Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Income Tax Benefit from Share-based Compensation	5,100		0	5,100	0	0	5,100	0
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Restricted Stock Award And Employee Stock Purchase Plan And Share Based Compensation		54,346
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Restricted Stock Award And Employee Stock Purchase Plan And Share Based Compensation	2,001		54	1,947	0	0	2,001	0
Treasury Stock, Shares, Acquired And Retired		(683,776)
Treasury Stock Value Acquired And Retired Cost Method	(29,317)		(684)	(28,633)	0	0	(29,317)	0
Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Share-based Compensation, Requisite Service Period Recognition	4,397		0	4,397	0	0	4,397	0
Stockholders' Equity, Other	0		0	0	0	0	0	0
Dividends, Common Stock, Cash	(21,961)		0	0	0	(21,961)	(21,961)	0
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest at Dec. 03, 2011	$ 835,558		$ 50,145	$ 19,453	$ (44,391)	$ 809,520	$ 834,727	$ 831
Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding at Dec. 03, 2011		50,144,928